Job Description

Program Officer, School Infrastructure, Nepal

Organization Profile:

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental and non-religious organization and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 9.7 million children by constructing more than 1,930 schools, establishing over 17,534 libraries, publishing 1,158 new children’s book titles in 11 local languages, and providing more than 3,1636 girls with long-term, holistic support to complete secondary school with the skills to negotiate key life decisions.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$43.7 million and our global staff numbers over 1,000. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have a Global Asia  Office located in New Delhi and program offices in Colombo, Dares Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. 

Position Overview:

This position is part of the Field Office Team. The School Infrastructure Program Officer will be responsible for managing all aspects of the School Infrastructure program including surveying, program implementation, supervising construction sites, monitoring and evaluation, and project reporting. S/he will provide technical oversight and assistance to school/partner construction committees to ensure high quality and timely implementation of construction projects. Candidates with experience in engineering and/or construction are preferred. This position will require frequent travel to various provinces within Nepal. The School Infrastructure Program officer will report directly to the Field Program Manager and will have field coordinators reporting to him/her.  

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Organize and oversee the complete process of constructing Room to Read supported projects in all Districts Room to Read works in
• Prepare detail designs for school room and CRR buildings, cost estimations for each project and specify the school’s/NGO partner’s cost-sharing contribution for the challenge grant. The cost estimation should specify all the items contributed locally and also indicate labor contribution from the schools
• Update tools for carrying out the Resource Mapping Survey of schools in project districts and assist consultants, district SR team members for the mapping work.
• Analyze and assess applications and/or proposals received from schools and/or partners that are in need and meet all our criteria for the challenge grant. Finalize a list of project sites and formulate strategies for implementation
• Prepare  donor application reports  of the schools into GSD
• Develop training packages and facilitate district team members for conducting visioning workshop, capacity building training to SCC members and technical training to building masons 
• Prepare/update MoU for construction work
• Develop training packages and conduct trainings for sub-engineers enabling them to maintain quality in construction, follow-up designs, specification during construction 
• Develop training packages and conduct trainings on routine and preventive maintenance on building maintenance for construction supervisors and school authorities
• Visit project districts, supervise and monitor construction sites and provide technical assistance as needed. Assure that construction is as agreed upon, particularly with respect to design, quality, timeliness, and the budget
• Collect monthly forecasted fund from the district, and fund expenditure records from the districts and verify the expenditure
• Progress updates and completion reports of SRs and CRRs into GSD
• Provide technical and managerial support to Senior Program Associates, sub-engineers and labor contractors particularly with respect to school construction so that the schools are constructed as per the guidelines of the program within the given time frame
• Continuously assess strategies to enhance the School Infrastructure program’s impact and sustainability in schools and communities, with particular focus on maximizing the community’s challenge grant contribution
• Visit project district/construction sites and organize discussions with the school management team and local authorities. Gather feedback and ensure that they deliver on their portion of the challenge grant and on all terms of agreement with Room to Read
• Prepare monthly progress reports of School Room and CRRs and share with Field Program Manager Program Manager, Program Operations Director (POD) and Country Director (CD)
• Prepare project details for GI collection of construction completed project schools  and participate  in orientation and training  to information collectors
• Document best practices and lessons learned during field work and share when required with other SI team, SI Program Manager, POD and CD

• Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization

Meetings/Networking

• Establish and manage relationships with other NGO’s, government officials and local educational facilities/authorities; schedule and attend meetings with them to coordinate planning and implementation of projects
• Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits
• Provide regular updates on program activities and plans at regular meetings with managements staff
• Document best practices and lessons learned during field work and share with other project sites, relevant local staff, the CD and appropriate US based Program Officers

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree Engineering (Civil)
• Five years experience in civil engineering especially in structural design and building construction
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
• Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including teaching methodologies and community involvement in schools
• Strong planning, supervising, and program development skills
• Ability to travel frequently to provinces throughout the country
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Nepali
• Proven track record of achieving results
• Experience developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy initiatives
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
• Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
• Proven track record of achieving results
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative
• Legally eligible to work in the Nepal; no sponsorship provided

Preferred:

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker – you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits including 13^thmonth bonus, provident fund, medical allowance and check-up, health and accidental insurances for staff and their family; leaves and staff professional development. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.

Application Procedure:

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with “PO SI” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to nepal.hiring@roomtoread.org. Due to high applicant volume, we regret that we are not able to send personalized responses to all applicants.  Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing 
the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. 

This Job is expired. The Company is no longer accepting applications for this position.